Student Life

People often say that the American business model and work environment is different than in other countries . . . but exactly how is it different? WithCISL’s Career English program, students have the opportunity to experience the U.S. work environment by spending time at an American host company. Italian student Emanuela recently completed the CISL Career English program and shared her experience with us. We are pleased to see the many ways in which she improved her English through written and spoken tasks!

CISL Career English Student Emanuela Experiences the BioMedical Research Industry

Emanuela had two interviews: one at Constance Ardila, and one at BioMed IRB. Emanuela recalls that she was “positively astounded by Grace’s [the Career English Coordinator] fast ability to find work placements and interviews.”

Before the interviews, Emanuela worked with the Career English Coordinator to prepare. Was she ready? According to Emanuela, the interview experience was “absolutely positive. I felt prepared and the interviewer . . . made me feel comfortable and asked me different questions.”

As Emanuela mentions, there was a need for her to prepare: “For sure, I can say that the way the Career English Coordinator, Grace Turner, helped me to prepare my interviews was really useful; in fact, there is a wide difference between the American and the Italian way to conduct interviews. In addition, Grace also guided me to produce my Cover Letter and my resume.”

After the interviews, Emanuela choseBioMed IRB. “This was a smart choice, because this non-profit company is well-known and its name on a resume is well-seen.” What did she do during her time there? Emanuela details her experiences at the company.

“During my experience at BioMed IRB, I had the opportunity to work in a wide variety of tasks:

reviewing some old email and check[ing] with the BioMed’s database if there was any missing document;

send[ing] email to some customers and call[ing] some of them;

reviewing the drafts of the old meetings and verifying that what is written on them corresponds to the invoices on the BioMed’s database with the same date;

translation from English to Italian of some official document[s] of FDA;

research related with Marco Polo and the spread of the plague in the 13th century;

every Thursday I have attended the BioMed’s meetings by computer; this is definitely my favorite part of the work”

Emanuela also completed the company’s CITI program, where she says she learned the following:

“writing a mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA);

scanning and modifying some document by putting an online stamp of acknowledge and uploading them on their online database;

understanding, through an online course, the issue of “patentability” regarding ideas and technologies

writing an essay in English and Italian about the scientific method”

Overall, Emanuela says that she really enjoyed her responsibilities. “The two tasks I have enjoyed are: attending the meeting and the CITI program. In fact, attending a meeting by computer is not only interest[ing] because of the topic they vote on, but it’s also a really good practice to improve my listening skills. Furthermore, completing successfully the CITI program and obtaining the official certification are clearly worthy for the resume; also, the issues I studied for it were all strictly related with my major and useful for my future.”

Emanuela continues, “In conclusion, my experience was absolutely positive: the work environment is small, but friendly; my supervisor, Fred Fox, has showed good attitude and interest in teaching me every day something new. Everything I have done on my volunteer work was related with biomedical issues.”

Would she recommend the CISL Career English Program?

“I would completely recommend the CISL Career English program to potential students because it is a good experience.” The outcomes, Emanuela says, include “ being more confident on a work environment, especially for someone who has never worked before” and “meeting and being confident with an American work environment.” Overall, Emanuela sees that the CE Program “is absolutely good for the resume, especially for European.”

We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your experience with CISL’s Career English program, Emanuela! We wish you all the best in your career in Italy and look forward to seeing how you use your English in the future!

Do you study and study English but feel like your language skills are not improving? Perhaps you are making some of these very common mistakes.

Why Your English Isn’t Improving

You aren’t getting enough practice speaking

Speaking skills can be some of the most difficult to improve, mainly because it requires many hours of speaking practice to see real improvement. Are you interacting with native English speakers in real-life environments?

You aren’t making it a part of your daily routine

Change your phone’s language to English. Follow English speaking accounts on Instagram. Always watch movies or TV shows with English subtitles. In short, make sure that English surrounds you!

You aren’t thinking in English

A common (and understandable) mistake that many English learners make is trying to translate exact sentences and phrases into their native language (or vise versa). Once you realize that English will never directly translate to your native language, you will begin thinking in English. This will greatly help you improve your skills.

You’re too nervous

It is also common to be nervous to speak English, but this feeling will only hurt your progress! Remind yourself that language learning is a process and that it is OK to make mistakes. Be sure to surround yourself with people who support your language learning and provide you with constructive criticism.

You aren’t fixing fossilized errors

“Fossilized errors” are mistakes that we make again and again. Is there an English tense that you struggle with? Or a sound that’s difficult to pronounce? Perhaps you have a difficult time with certain irregular verbs? Or maybe phrasal verbs make your head spin? Identify your weaknesses and then work hard to fix them. Speaking without worrying about these mistakes will allow you to communicate confidently!

Converse International School of Languages has provided quality English language instruction to international students in San Francisco and San Diego since 1973. To learn more about our intensive programs and our small classes (no more than 8 students per class; 4 students in our premier programs) contact CISL.

Moving to the U.S. to study English is an exciting opportunity. For many, it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Make the most of your time in the U.S. and avoid these 5 common mistakes international students make. After 45 years of providing English instruction, we at CISL continue to see these mistakes made again and again!

5 Common Mistakes International Students Make

Speaking their native language

It’s very easy to speak your native language, especially if there is some in your residence hall or at your school who speaks your language. Remind yourself DAILY why you are here: to learn English! This means speaking English to everyone, not just people who do not speak your native language. Remember: every conversation you have is a chance to improve your speaking skills.

Not going on activities

At CISL, we provide organized activities nearly every day of the week. These activities are an excellent way to see more of San Diego and San Francisco; they are also a wonderful way to meet other students from the school and interact with the CISL staff. Activities often provide access to museums, parks, and events at a discounted rate. Check with the Front Desk and see what’s planned for this month, and don’t miss out on the fun!

Missing local events

Sometimes, students are so overwhelmed with moving to a new city that they forget to really enjoy it. Don’t just learn the public transportation systems and where to buy groceries: learn about the fun things happening in your new neighborhood! Check out the Instagram pages of local neighborhoods, search online for local events, and visit local cafes and look for flyers. Immerse yourself into your new environment and you will soon feel like an important part of your new community.

Not disconnecting

With today’s technology, we are always connected: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are just some of the many ways we stay in touch with friends and family! But don’t forget that you sometimes need to disconnect from the digital world in order to truly enjoy the world around you. It would be a shame to look back on your time in California and remember being on your phone instead of remembering being in a place.

Not exploring the new city

Your new city will have many new neighborhoods to explore: see them all! Don’t get stuck staying in your new community; remember to explore everything the city has to offer. With public transportation and ride services such as Uber and Lyft, you are connected to all parts of your new place. Explore!

Are you coming to the U.S. to study English? If so, you probably have many questions regarding your visa: how to obtain it, what to do (and what not to do) during your interview, and how long your visa will be valid. Read on for information about student visas, including the I-94, B2, F1, and I-20.

Student Visa Information for International Students

I-94

An I-94 is a document that shows when you arrived to the U.S.. Everyone entering the US (who is not a U.S. citizen) has an I-94.

The school issues an I-20 form to the student. For this to happen, the student must provide the following: a copy of their passport, a permanent home address, proof of funds, city and country of birth, and exact study dates. Important: Only a DSO (Designated School Official) can sign an I-20. Copies are not permitted and it is illegal to send the I-20 by email or fax.

The student then pays the $200 SEVIS fee using the I-20. The link to pay this fee is: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html

Tips for the F-1 visa

At the interview, it is important to have all of the required documents with you. This includes:

I-20

I-901 receipt

passport

passport photos for the new visa

proof of funds

proof of a permanent address

Students are asked a lot of questions at the interview, including what they will study at CISL. Sometimes students are denied if they don’t have a clear academic goal. Make sure that you clearly know which courses you have enrolled in for CISL and be able to show that you have a clear academic goal (for example, to pass the English for Academic Purposes course, or to complete the Cambridge First Certificate Exam Preparation course). Students who are unaware of their program and their purpose of study can be denied a visa.

If students are enrolled in the Career English program, it is important not to use the word “internship.” An internship visa is a separate visa, and one that students at CISL do not obtain. CISL does not use the word “internship” in any of its documentation online or in print: this is because the Career English program is to help students improve their English skills at an American company. The goal of the program is not to have students improve their business skills.

If approved, the student will receive a visa in their passport. Please remember our school does not issue “visas.” Only the U.S. government issues visas.

Very important: F-1 students should not attempt to enter the US more than 30 days before their starting date. If this happens, students might not be able to enter the country.

Moving to the U.S. to study English is exciting, but it can also be a little scary! Follow these suggestions for the 5 things you should do in your first week as an international student at CISL San Diego or San Francisco and you will feel adjusted and comfortable in your new home in less than a week.

5 Things You Should Do in Your First Week as an International Student

#1: Learn the transportation system

Make it easy to see your new city! Learn your transportation options immediately. Here are some suggestions:

Buy a bicycle (if you want to own a bike). Check out Craigslist to buy a used bicycle for a good price. (As always with Craigslist, be sure to meet the person in a public location, like a coffee shop, to make your purchase.)

Download apps for the ride-share services in your area (like the apps Uber and Lyft) so that you can get a ride for a good price.

If you’re in SD, download FRED (The Free Ride). You can get a free ride to anywhere Downtown!

If you are interested in getting your driver’s license, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for information on how to take the test: the process is quite simple in California, but you will need to show proof of address (like an electricity bill). This may take some time for you to set up.

#2: Get your phone card

Get connected to family and friends back home! Pre-paid SIM cards can be purchased from many locations and are very affordable. They can be purchased from a local convenient store (such as 7-11) or at a mobile phone carrier such as T-Mobile or AT&T.

#3: Find your grocery shopping locations

Where will you do all of your shopping? When you are exploring your new neighborhood, try to locate all of the area’s grocery stores. Usually you will be close to a large grocery store (such as Von’s, Ralph’s or Safeway), but there will probably also be small stores close to you that have many of the items you need. In addition, see if your neighborhood has a farmer’s market: usually these are once per week on a scheduled day.

#4: Find out where you will exercise

The quickest way to feel like you are at home is to have a routine: make sure your routine includes staying healthy! Find a gym, yoga studio, or other exercise studio in your area and join it so that you can make friends and stay healthy. Check out our International Student Guide to Exercising in the U.S. for some tips and information on U.S. gyms.

#5: Enjoy some of the local restaurants

The best part about living in a new country is of course the food! Explore your neighborhood and try a few restaurants and cafes that are close to you. See which ones are open late (in case you get a late-night craving for something delicious). Don’t be afraid to talk to the employees: people are very friendly in the U.S.! Chances are, the employees will love to give you some tips for things to do and see in your new neighborhood.